522 SYSTEM A TIC SYNOPSIS. — BAPTOBES — A CCIPITBES. 
"brown or rufous. Five outer primaries mostly blackish, all of them and the secondaries with 
large white basal areas on inner webs ; tail-feathers banded with 5 or 6 obscure dusky bars, 
the terminal one strongest and most distinct, and marbled with white toward their bases. The 
bluish cast invades the fore under parts, the rest of which are white, with sparse drop-shaped 
rufous spots ; lining of wings white. From this blue-and-white state the bird is found grading 
by degrees into the very different plumage of the 9 and young : Above, dark umber-brown^ 
everywhere more or less varied with reddish-brown or yellowish -brown, the upper tail-coverts, 
however, white, forming a very ccmspicuous murk ; under parts a variable shade of brownish- 
yellow, or ochraceous, streaked with umber-brown, at least on breast and sides ; tail crossed with 
6-7 blackish bars. The younger the bird the heavier tlie coloration, which is sometimes quite 
blackish and reddish, excepting the white upper tail-coverts. ^ 9 • Iris, tarsi, and toes bright 
yellow ; cere yelloM^ or yellowish ; bill blackish ; claws black. ^ : length 17.50-19.00 ; 
extent 40.00-44.00 ; wing 13.00-14.00; tail 9.00-10.00 ; tarsus .3.00 or less ; middle toe with- 
out claw 1.20. 9 : length 19.00-21.50; extent 45.00-50.00; M'iug 14.00-16.00; tail 9.50- 
10.50 ; tarsus 3.00 or more ; middle toe without claw 1.40. North Am, at large, one of the 
most abundant and widely-diffused of its family, especially in meadowy and marshy places, and 
easily recognized by its generic characters, in all its variation of size and color. The nest is 
placed upon the ground, and rather neatly built of hay, a foot in diameter, 3 inches high ; eggs 
3-6 ? commonly 4-5, broad and nearly equal-ended, 1.80 to 1.90 X 1.40-1.45, dull white, 
with more or less greenish or bluish shade ; no decided markings, but frequently small spots 
and large blotches of very pale brownish on the surface, and some neutral-tint shell-spots. 
No specific difference from C. cyaneus of Europe ; averaging a little larger ; old ^ retaining a 
few rufous spots in white of under parts, and more evident barring of wings and tail. 
Kites. 
No ruff or ear-conch. Loral 
bristles moderate, scanty or quite 
wanting, the head being then 
closely and softly feathered to 
the bill. Superciliary shield evi- 
dent or not. Bill usually weak, 
sometimes extremely slender, 
the cutting edge of the upper 
mandible straight to the curve, 
or lobed or festooned, but not 
toothed, nor the under mandible 
truncate and notched. Nostrils 
not circular, nor with central 
bony tubercle. Wings very 
long, more or less narrowed 
and pointed, with several (in 
our genera 2 to 5) primaries 
emarginate on inner webs. Tail 
very A-ariable in length and 
shape, in our genera nearly 
even or deeply forked. Feet 
very small ; tarsus much shorter 
than tibia, approximately equal 
to middle toe without claw, — 
usually feathered above, the rest 
